In the late 1850's Arizonans were searching for a better way to cross the deserts north of Phoenix. In 1857 Lieutenant Edward Beale was given the challenge to build a wagon road that stretched from the desert south of Flagstaff to the Colorado River.
When Beale set out on his adventure to create a wagon trail across the northern part of Arizona he put together a strange looking caravan. Included in this caravan were wagons drawn by mules, sheep for food, and believe it or not, camels. Beale believed that the exotic camels from North Africa would be well suited for the Arizona deserts because of their adaptation to dry, arid climates.
The camels wore bells around their necks and were led by colorfully dressed camel drivers who sang them traditional Arabian songs to soothe them along their journey. The camels were used primarily as pack animals and were efficient because they drank very little water and learned to eat native desert plants such as greasewood.
The camels were not a total success however. Many soldiers got ill from the swaying motion that occurs while riding the creatures. Also, the mules were terribly afraid of the giant animals and were often thrown into a panic at the sight of the camels.
The wagon trail was completed and water sources were located along the trail to aid pioneers along their trip to California. The camels were not used again after this experiment but continued to live on in the Arizona deserts for some time.
After the camel experiment concluded many of the animals were auctioned off to circuses or carnivals. Others were sold to mines and used to transport ore and some were simply set loose to roam the Arizona desert. Tales of wild camels inhabiting the desert were told by farmers, ranchers and prospectors for many years after the animals were freed. One famous tale is about a camel known as the Red Ghost that would appear with the skeleton of a man still strapped to its back. When hoofprints were found and red hair found on bushes nearby it seemed that this tale might actually be true. However, when the Red Ghost was finally killed its back was covered with knotted rawhide staps but no human remains.
Travelers today can stop in the small town of Quartzite, west of Phoenix to see a monument dedicated to the camels and their handlers that helped build a wagon trail across the State and travel into local legend along the way.
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